Combination mount for machine guns



May 21, 1929.

l l W1 R. R. STUDLER ET AL COMBINATION MOUNT FOR MACHINE GUNS Filed April 28, 1927 RETLE RQEtudler W R Elluehcfurn I Patented May 21, 1929.

p The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government forgovernmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon. The subjectof this invention is a combination mount for machine guns.

For firing against ground targets a gun must be oapableof being operated from a low stable mounting for the protection of both the gun crew and advancing friendly troops while, for firing against rapidly moving aerial targets a high mount is of prime consideration to facilitate aiming and manipulation of the gun. I

The employment of machine guns against aircraft having been successfully demon strated this weapon is introduced into the anti-aircraft defense establishment. This development finds the organic infantry and cavalry machine gun organizations equipped onlylwith the low mounts and it is the purpose of this invention to provide the mount 3 with-an anti-aircraft adaptor in order that 'th'ese'arms ofthe service may employ their weaponto the fullest advantage.

An adaptor to meet the requirements impose'd by its assigned function should be a sim le' compact li 'ht and inte ral art of 7 J. 7 D C the moi1nt,not interfering with ground firing, permitting a gun elevation of at least 80, capable of being conveniently moved to and from operatlve position 111 a minimum time without disturbing the ammunition belt and without requiring handling P of the hot gun by the personnel and having suificient clearanceto permit efficient direc tion of fire. In addition to these requirements. the adaptor must possess the char aoteristics of rigidity stability and-convenence in folding to the mount for transportation. 'VVith the foregoing and'other ob ects in View, my invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details-of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed with-' out departing from the spirit of the invention.

A. practical embodiment of: the invention .y es as are itEnE'R. STUDLER, on THE UNITED sa a'rns ARMY, or WASHINGTON, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA, AND WILLIAM R. BLUEHDORN, or

HARTFORD, COHNECTICUT.

' (GRANTE NDER THE nor or reason 3, less, as AMENDED Aria-Iss0, 1928; 370 o. G. 757.)

is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 isa view inside elevation of a mount showing the adapter in lowered position during ground firing; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the adaptor in position for anti-aircraft firing; I i

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the adaptor; Fig. 1 is a plan'view of the lowerm'ember of the trunnion band;

igs. and 6 are detail views respective ly in plan and side elevation of the clamping handle. p i I Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference: 4 I The standard machine gun mount forrlow angle firing consistsof a'tripod 5 in whose socket is a pintle 6 whichcarri'es the cra dle by means of the trunnion 8. The gun is attachedto the cradle by means of pins 9 and 10 respectively passing through the upper end of the elevating mechanism 11 targets comprises a bracket 13 mounted on cradle trunnion 8 and terminating at its free end in an upwardly curved yoke 14, apertured to receive a trunnion band 15 embracing the water jacket of the gun and having its axis substantially in the plane of the axis of bore of the gun. The band is formed of an upper and lower semi-circular member respectively designated as 16 and 17 and hinged as at 18. The clamping handle 19 is swung on a double eye bolt 20 carried by the lower member of the band and arranged to enter the bifurcated lip 21 of the upper hasp member.

The function of the trunnion band is to support the gun when the adaptor is in the elevated position as seen in Fig. 2. In this adjustment the gun has been moved forwardly in order to lock the band at the rear of the water jacket substantially at the cen ter of gravity of the gun and it is clamped in place when the cleats 22 on the lower prepared to engage pins 9 and 10' are removed and an upward pull on the gun causes the bracket 13 to swing about the cradle trunnion 8. The- .tor the cradle 7 maybe swung to itsposition of maximum elevation in order to provide clearance.- In preparing the mount for transportation the adaptor is swung rear-v wardly and nests on the cradle as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In an emergency the adaptor may be lowered to the position shown in Fig. land firing may be commenced while the pins 9 and are being inserted inplace, I g

I claim: I

' l. A mount for machine guns embodying a support, a cradle trunnioned on the'sup port and having provision for attaching a gun thereto, a bracketmounted on the cradle trunnion an. upturned yoke on'the free end of the bracket, a trunnion band mounted in the yoke and arranged'to embrace the gun,

' 'm'ea-ns for clamping the band and 'means forfutilizing the gun attaching provision of the cradle 1n securing the bI'ELOlIGlS'lIl upright posltion.

2. Amount for machine guns embodying a support, a cradle trunnioned on the lsupport, a bracket mounted on the cradle trun nion, an upturned yoke on the free endof' f gun and its center of gravity,

the bracket, a trunnion band mounted in the yoke and arranged to embrace the gun, means for clamping-thevband and means for securing the bracket to the cradle inian upright position. I 3. A mount nion, means, on the free end of the bracket the bracket in a upright position.

for machine guns,'embodying I a support, a cradle trunnioned onthe support, a bracket, mounted on the cradle trunfor supporting'a gun and means for securing V LIA mount for machine guns embodying i a support, a cradle trunnioned on the support and having provlslon for attachmg a gun thereto, a bracket having gun carry ng means mounted for normal movement in elevation with the cradle and gun and means tor securing the. bracket aga1nstmovement.- 5. vThe combination of a-machme gun and I its mount, a bracket carried by; the mount, a gun connection on the bracket, said connection in' inoperative position of adjust.- ment of the bracket engageable with the forward part of the :gun and inoperative position of adjustment engageablewith the 6. mount for guns includingmeans for trunnloning a gun for low angle firing and 7 means fortrunnioning-the gunata greater between, gun and mount.

f' RENE R. sToDLEn;

.65 height for high angle =firin said last named means permitting changev rom onepositi'on i r to another without breakingthe connection I 1 WILLIAM B UEHno n.if. 

